________________
CONFLUENCE OF OPPOSITES
.
337
and on the employment of speech and body in the praises of the Lord and of the purse in alms-giving.
The Buddhist prayer is likewise a combination of an expression and an inspiration-expression of belief and inspiration of ideal and zeal. As an expression of faith, Buddhist prayer pays homage to Buddha, to his truth and community, mostly in adoration and exultation which serve at the same time as a confession of faith. As an inspiration of ideal aspiration it takes the form of a solemn vow to commit ourselves to efforts in moral perfection (ERE. vol. x. page 167).
As compared with this, the Hindu Gayatri is simplicity itself: "We.meditate on the excellent glory of that Sun God; may he draw our intellect towards himself.” It is a prayer for enlightenment and knowledge to the Sun, the worship of the Sun signifying merely the adoration of the internal atman (soul). For it is said in the Maitrayanopani shad. ." The sun outside is the objective Atman and prada (life) in
the internal Atman. The workings of the one are compared to those of the other. Therefore meditate mpon the sup as one and apply to the atman" (PHB. vol. 1. p.
473). The Parsi prayer has been already given in the first lecture, and reads:
"As the Ahu is to be chosen. So (let) the Ratu (be) from every legal fitness,
A creator of mental goodness, 22
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
